For some strange reason the Republican didn't actually paywall this article for a change, so enjoy.

As per usual, the state is threatening to cut off-peak and weekend branch line service because of budget shortfalls.

In an effort to balance its budget, the state Department of Transportation is threatening substantial cuts to transit services, including the Waterbury branch of Metro-North Railroad. A proposal to mitigate the agency’s budget deficit calls for a reduction of weekday off-peak service on Shore Line East, along with the Danbury, Waterbury and New Canaan branches.

Well, they p****d enough money in the busway and now they are spending lots of funds to redevelop passenger service on the Springfield Line. Meantime they are letting what they already have go to hell. This makes absolutely NO SENSE.Noel Weaver

The Rep-Am article that I read yesterday laments about the 70 mil. spent on the Waterbury line for the signaling and passing sidings for MORE service but now wants to eliminate all mid day service. My tax dollars at work. Nuts!

Precisely why this a poorly thought out scheme...pour all that money in and then effectively shoot yourselves in the foot. Waterbury's most patronized train is the 5:41 (or whatever it is) from Bridgeport on Sunday evenings. I regularly rode that train for several years. It's ALWAYS a zoo.

"I am no longer just a girl on the train, going back and forth without point or purpose."

Noel Weaver wrote:Well, they p****d enough money in the busway and now they are spending lots of funds to redevelop passenger service on the Springfield Line. Meantime they are letting what they already have go to hell. This makes absolutely NO SENSE.Noel Weaver

Ribbon cutting ceremonies for new projects which meet every special interest group's standards is huge for political gain, maintaining old services with "aging" (I LOATHE that word) equipment and outdated infrastructure with STAIRS (how did we ever live?) is far less valuable in baby-kissing venues.

Connecticut has been falling apart financially for years, and there's no one particular reason why. It's a systemic failing.

No word yet on any aversion of these cuts but I'm guessing they will find a way. This is a doomsday cut proposal put forward as a negotiating tactic in order to get the public to more readily swallow whatever combination of tax hikes and cuts to other things the state will end up putting in place instead.

Apparently, someone found a $20 in their winter coat pocket...: CTPOST.com

Our erstwhile Commuter Action Group and Metro North gadfly, James Cameron (pictured is the Fordham platform, because, you know, that makes sense for CtDOT funding issues). And he's apparently not impressed with Chris Murphy, who may need to take lessons from Schumenthalloy (TM: GotT).

Brief, fair-use:

Getting There: Transportation funding crisis postponed, not averted

There is an angry and confused tone among commuters as the clock ticks down on the Legislature’s efforts to avert service cuts and fare hikes.

Most of those who attended a recent “listening session” in New Canaan cared little about U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy’s outline of his vision of national infrastructure. They were more worried about losing their midday and weekend branch line service on Metro-North under the state Department of Transportation’s proposed budget cuts that would take effect July 1....While state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, tried to reassure attendees that the looming crisis has been averted, claiming there will be no service cuts or fare hikes on July 1, the details are fuzzy.

The proposed budgets by both political parties seem to find money to staunch the hemorrhaging of the STF. But sources tell me it’s the same old shell game. Take a little money from the rainy-day fund, divert the new car sales tax, maybe a booze bottle deposit tax, and yes, a four- to seven-cent increase in the gasoline tax. Even Boucher said a gas tax hike “would be fair.”

But no tolls? In an election year, that can has been kicked down the road once again....

The M8's won't enter service until after Kawasaki finishes the M9 order; CtDOT had to add an option because fleet size wasn't big enough after they decided to scrap all remaining M# predecessors save the three M2 sets they needed for NH mainline service.

State is still broke AF, but Danny put out a press release today about how impending doom has been averted for the time being.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced that with the signing of the state budget adjustment bill earlier this week, bus and train fare increases and service reductions that had been scheduled to take effect on July 1 have been canceled.